Method of producing invisible scoop separable fastener stringers



0 L- H. MORIN METHOD OF PRODUCING INVISIBLE A ril 30, 1963 3,087,200

SCOOP SEPARABLE FASTENER STRINGERS Flled Sept 4, 1959 Fl TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,087,200 METHOD OF PRODUCING INVISIBLE SCOOP SEPARABLE FASTENER STRINGERS Louis H. Morin, Bronx, N.Y. (125 Beechwood Ave, New Rochelle, N.Y.) Filed Sept. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 838,159 3 Claims. (Cl. 18-59) This invention relates to a method of producing separable fastener stringers, where in the scoops are so formed on the beaded edge portion of the tape as to facilitate reverse folding of the tape around portions of the scoops, so as to produce in resulting coupled stringers a fastener structure, wherein the scoops are invisible or concealed in viewing the separable fastener from one surface of the stringers.

More particularly, the invention deals with a method of producing separable fastener stringer of the character described, wherein coupling end portions of the scoops are initially formed on one surface of the stringer tape and tape fold and supporting elements are disposed upon the opposed surface of the tape.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the method of initially casting scoops upon the beaded edge portion of a stringer tape.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view showing one of the scoops detached with respect to the tape, with part of the construction broken away.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through a pair of coupled stringers, the section being substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 on a reduced scale.

Normally, in the production of cast scoops of separable fastener stringers, it has been customary to cast the scoops upon the beaded edge of a stringer tape with the coupling end portion of the scoops protruding beyond said beaded edge.

In my present conception, I reverse the normal procedure and, in the casting operation, the coupling end portions of the scoops are formed upon a surface of the stringer tape inwardly of the beaded edge and means in the form of an impervious element or membrane is employed to prevent adhesion of a major portion of the coupling ends of the scoops with the stringer tape, whereby, in reverse folding of the tape on the scoops around fold elements on an opposed side of each scoop, portions only of the coupling ends will protrude beyond the folds in the tape and the entire scoop structure will be disposed upon an inner surface of the folded portions of the tape, with scoops of coupled stringers completely sealed by the folds in the tapes of the stringers.

In illustrating one adaptation of my method, I have diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing the formation of scoops at spaced intervals on the beaded edge 11 of a stringer tape 12. On the uppermost scoop is diagrammatically illustrated the gate portion 13, which is later trimmed-off in the production of fasteners in accordance with methods well known in this art.

In casting the scoops 10 upon the tape, it will appear that the coupling end portions 14 are formed on the surface 15 of the tape. As the coupling end portions 14 are more or less of standard and known construction, no detailed description thereof is deemed to be necessary, it being understood that the coupling ends of the stringers of one scoop operatively engage the coupling ends of scoops 3,087,200 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 of opposed stringers in securing the stringers together. Here, FIG. 3 of the drawing can be noted, where 10 represents the scoop of the stringer 12; whereas, 10 represents the scoop of the stringer 12, the coupling end portion 14 of the scoop 10 only appearing, although a portion of the coupling end of the scoop 10* is indicated at 14.

In casting the scoops on the stringer tapes, tape folding and supporting elements 16 are formed on the opposed surface 17 of the stringer tape, the elements including projecting finger or bar portions 18, note FIG. 3 of the drawing, end portions of which seat in recesses 19 in surfaces of adjacent scoops. In FIG. 3 of the drawing, 16" represents elements, similar to the elements 16 on the companion stringer, 18 the fingers and 19" the recesses.

The coupling end portions 14 and elements 16 are integrally united in mounting end portions 20 on the scoops 10 and 20 on the scoops 10', these coupling end portions encircling the beaded edge 11 of the stringer 12 and 11 of the stringer 12', as clearly noted in FIG. 3 of the drawing. Outer surfaces of the end portions 20, 20' are rounded, as seen at 21, 21, for reception of curved flange portions of a slider employed to couple and uncouple the stringers, it being understood that the slider operates solely upon the inner surface of the coupled scoops.

In casting scoops upon fabric tapes of various types and kinds, the pressure injection of the casting material, whether it be metal, plastics or the like, extends into the interstices of the braid of the tape and establishes a positive adhesion thereto. To prevent this adhesion on part of a surface of the coupling end portions 14, 14, I employ in the casting operation an impervious element or membrane 22 which can, for example, be a ribbonlike strip of ticker tape or other similar material, to which the cast material will not adhere. After the casting operation and at a suitable period in the production of the stringers, the element 22 can be removed and, upon removal, will leave a recess surface, as -at 23. Note, in this connection, FIG. 3 of the drawing.

By virtue of the non-adhesion of the. tape to the surface 23, the tape normally lying over this surface in the casting operation can then 'be folded, as indicated at 24, 24, around the elements 16, 16', so as to dispose the scoops upon the surfaces 17, 17, thus arranging the surfaces 15, .15 of the stringer tapes outermost. It will appear, from a consideration of FIG. 3 of the drawing, that location of the adjacent surfaces of the elements 16, 16' is such as to bring the folds 24, 24 in abutting engagement with each other or at least in close proximity to each other.

In the illustration of FIG. 4 of the drawing, which while reduced from the showing in FIG. 3 is still extremely large, clearances have been shown between the ends of the fingers 18 and the recesses 19; whereas, in actual practice, the slight clearances which would prevail would hardly -be noticed and the elements 16, 16' would actually form on the surface of the stringers a more or less continuous link-like bar, around which the tape is folded and which supports the tape at all times in the position ilustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing It will be understood that, aside from the surface 23 noted in FIG. 3 of the drawing and the corresponding surface of the scoops of the companion stringer, all other surfaces of the scoops arranged upon the tape will adhere thereto.

By virtue of the simple method employed, scoops of separable fastener stringers can be formed in accordance with known methods of individual castings or cast increments of three or more scoops and any type or kind of element 22 can be employed for preventing adhesion of coupling end portions of the scoop to the tape in the casting operation.

It will be apparent, from a consideration of FIG. 4 of the drawing that the elements 16 extend along the tape a materially greater distance than the mounting end portions of the scoops. In fact, one element nests with the element of adjacent scoops in forming the substantially continuous link-like bar which supports the fold in the tape through the major portion of the length thereof, as a matter of fact, substantially throughout the entire length of the fold.

-It will also be understood that, by reason of the positive coupling engagement of the surface of the elements 16 adjacent the tape and surfaces of the coupling end portion adjacent the tape by virtue of the cast material extending into the interstices of the braid, a considerably stronger mounting of each scoop with the tape is established, thus producing an exceptionally strong separable fastener stringer.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of producing separable fastener stringers, which comprises arranging on one flat surface of an edge beaded stringer tape inwardly of the bead and parallel thereto an impervious strip, injection molding the scoops at spaced intervals along the beaded edge portion of said stringer tape with at least part of the coupling end portions of the scoops arranged upon said strip, removing said strip to form on each scoop a recess spaced with respect to said surface of the stringer tape, and then folding the tape around means afiixed to opposite side surfaces of the tape inwardly of the bead and in alignment with part of the coupling end portion of the scoop fixed to the first named surface of the stringer tape.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said means is fashioned to form a bar projecting at one side surface of each scoop, and forming a recess in the opposed side surface of each scoop for reception of the bar of an adjacent scoop.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said means is so fashioned on scoops of a stringer to form a continuous link-like bar for support of the fold of the tape throughout the major portion of the length of said fold.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,891,989 Johnson Dec. 27, 1932 2,120,328 Morin Dec. 14, 1937 2,738,560 Hug Mar. 20, 1956 2,849,774 Ryser Sept. 2, 1958 2,928,127 Armstrong Mar. 15, 1960 2,959,833 Ryser Nov. 15, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 201,611 Australia Sept. 15, 1955 

1. THE METHOD OF PRODUCING SEPARABLE FASTENER STRINGERS, WHICH COMPRISES ARRANGING ON ONE FLAT SURFACE OF AN EDGE BEADED STRINGER TAPE INWARDLY OF THE BEAD AND PARALLEL THERETO AN IMPERVIOUS STRIP, INJECTION MOLDING THE SCOOPS AT SPACED INTERVALS ALONG THE BEADED EDGE PORTION OF SAID STRINGER TAPE WITH AT LEAST PART OF THE COUPLING END PORTIONS OF THE SCOOPS ARRANGED UPON SAID STRIP, REMOVING SAID STRIP TO FORM ON EACH SCOOP A RECESS SPACED WITH RESPECT TO SAID SURFACE OF THE STRINGER TAPE, AND THEN FOLDING THE TAPE AROUND MEANS AFFIXED TO OPPOSITE SIDE SURFACES OF THE TAPE INWARDLY OF THE BEAD AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH PART OF THE COUPLING END PORTION OF THE SCOOP FIXED TO THE FIRST NAMED SURFACE OF THE STRINGER TAPE. 